"The Only Way Around Is Through" - Robert Frost

We have negotiated several twists and turns, but finally we have a new date for John's stem cell transplant - September 12. In the jargon of the transplant world here at Mayo, this will be his new "birthday." He will undergo final tests next week, then will have two days of intense chemo, followed by the infusion of the stem cells that John harvested last fall and which were frozen during this wait period. The transplant itself will take about 12 hours and is done through a temporary port which is placed in his chest. The amazing thing is that this is all done on an outpatient basis, meaning that we will be able to rest and recuperate here at Transplant House until his white blood count builds back up and his immune system is functional again. We will visit the clinic daily for check-ups, as each blood cell component is measured and monitored for progress. Though it is not uncommon for patients to spend some time in the hospital with complications, the hope is to keep hospitalization to a minimum. More soon!